Oktober 2018
COFCO_PLA production complex in Changchun/China
Petroleum-based plastics
To reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics, thyssenkrupp has developed a
manufacturing process for the bioplastic polylactide (PLA). The world’s first commercial
plant based on the patented PLAneo® technology recently started production in
Changchun, China. It is operated by the Jilin COFCO Biomaterial Corporation, a subsidiary
of COFCO, China’s largest food and beverage group. The new plant produces all standard
PLA types, among other things for the production of eco-friendly packaging, fibers, textiles
and engineering plastics.
Polyactide (PLA) is a 100% bio-based and compostable plastic which thanks to its physical
and mechanical properties can replace conventional oil-based polymers in many areas. The
starting material for PLA production is lactic acid, which is recovered from renewable
resources such as sugar, starch or cellulose. |
Products made from Polyactid (PLA)
The economy
Sami Pelkonen, CEO of the Electrolysis & Polymers Technologies business unit of
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions: “The bioplastics market will continue to grow in the
coming years, not least due to the increasing environmental awareness of industry,
governments and consumers. With our PLAneo® technology we want to do our bit to make
the plastics sector more sustainable and resource-friendly. With it we enable our customers
to produce high-quality bioplastics with a wide range of properties – at a price that is
competitive with conventional plastics.”
The PLAneo® technology in large-scale plants
PLAneo® technology converts lactic acid into PLA in a particularly efficient and resourcefriendly
way. Another advantage is its transferability to large-scale plants with capacities of
up to 100,000 tons per year. In developing the technology, thyssenkrupp’s subsidiary Uhde
Inventa-Fischer profited from decades of expertise gained from the construction of more
than 400 polymerization plants and extensive experience in the scale-up of new
technologies. For the new plant in Changchun thyssenkrupp provided the engineering, key
plant components and supervision of construction and commissioning.
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the press release 